My current school has been struggling for some time to establish a regular advisory block for middle and high school students. Scheduling has been problematic, with some teachers crossing over from middle to high school, as well as the time demands of some of the IBDP classes.

While we have been able to plug in advisory sessions where we can, I felt that we needed to do more to put a more stable program in place, especially for my middle school kids. Middle school can be a tumultuous time for students as they navigate academic, social, and emotional challenges on their journey to young adulthood. During this transformative period, an effective advisory program offers students a safe and welcoming space to grow, learn, and thrive

Get Buy-In

So, I sat down one day and began putting ideas together. First, I wanted to get the buy-in of my colleagues. I didn’t want to be the guy who runs ahead and maps out an entire plan without consulting with the teachers who would have to ultimately deliver it. In addition, my colleagues were able to make valuable contributions, in terms of topics to include and the overall philosophy.

Aligning the Program

Then, I began to think of the curriculum logistics. The middle school portion of an advisory program would obviously include students across multiple grades (in my school’s case, grades 6, 7, and 8), so the lessons would need to be tailored to meet the unique developmental needs and challenges of those students. 

For instance, with sixth graders embarking on their journey into middle school, our advisory sessions would need to focus on easing the transition, fostering organizational skills, and promoting positive peer interactions. For seventh graders navigating the complexities of adolescence, our program would target the development of effective study skills to enhance academic success. And for our eighth graders on the cusp of high school, our advisory curriculum would need to center around higher-order thinking skills, career exploration, and preparing for the academic and social challenges that lay ahead. 

In addition, I wanted to avoid any duplication of topics (unless in situations where important issues or skills need to be repeated). That way we would avoid the “But we did this last year!” complaints. 

Here’s an outline of how the program would be organized:

Grade 6 Advisory Program: Transition and Executive Functioning

Transition to Secondary School

• Orientation to middle school environment
• Tour of school facilities
• Introduce middle school teachers
• How is middle school different from elementary?
• Growth Mindset (“…Yet!”, ‘Mistakes = Valuable Information’) 
• Using ChatGBT (and other AI products)

Executive Functioning Skills

• Understanding executive functioning
• Time management techniques
• Organization strategies
• Planning
• Perseverance and flexibility

Self-Management 

• Building positive relationships with peers and teachers
• Conflict resolution strategies
• Special sessions for male and female students focusing on gender-specific topics (good role models, being there for each other, puberty, etc.)
• Considering multiple perspectives
• Apologies and making amends
• Managing Stress
• Balancing academic and extracurricular activities

Reflection and Goal Setting

• Reflecting on progress and challenges
• Setting short-term and long-term goals for academic and personal growth

Grade 7 Advisory Program: Team Building and Study Skills

Team Building

• Cooperative games and activities
• Building communication and collaboration skills
• Understanding the importance of teamwork

Online Behavior and Safety

• Digital citizenship and online etiquette
• Cyberbullying prevention
• Internet safety tips and guidelines
• Social media user agreements
• How many hours do you spend online?

Study Skills

• Note-taking and summarizing strategies
• Test-taking techniques
• Time management for homework and assignments

Debate/Discussion Skills

• Introduction to debate and discussion techniques
• Structuring arguments and counterarguments
• Active listening and respectful communication
• Practice debates on age-appropriate topics

Reflection and Goal Setting

• Reflecting on progress and challenges
• Setting short-term and long-term goals for academic and personal growth

Grade 8 Advisory Program: Preparing for IB and Beyond

Transition to HS

• Academic Planning & Course Selection
• Managing stress and expectations during transitions
• Exploring extracurricular activities and academic requirements (GRADES COUNT IN HS)

Introduction to IB

• Overview of the IB program
• Understanding the IB learner profile
• Academic and extracurricular requirements

Leadership Skills

• Identifying leadership qualities
• Leadership roles within the school community
• Developing leadership skills through group projects and activities

Career Planning and Life Skills

• College applications
• Exploring career interests and pathways
• Resume writing and interview skills
• Financial literacy and budgeting
• Transition planning for post-secondary education or workforce

Reflection and Goal Setting

• Reflecting on progress and challenges
• Setting short-term and long-term goals for academic and personal growth

So, by differentiating our advisory program to address the specific needs of each grade level, we ensured that every student received the support and guidance necessary to thrive academically, socially, and personally during their middle school years and beyond.

The next step is to bring this plan to my administration. 

Once this concept is approved, I will take on the task of fleshing out all these topics. I hope to get a large number of lessons created for the first few weeks, and then develop the rest as we go. My objective is to make sure what we offer our students is both meaningful and engaging. And, I want them to do more talking than their teachers!

Wish me luck!

Ed X!